Self-Help Shareshttps://www.self-help.org/urn:uuid:dcb7f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/02/21/new-meds-in-east-durham-welcome-russell's-pharmacy!New Meds in East Durham: Welcome Russell's Pharmacy!<h6><em>Looking ahead: The Angier Business &amp; Children's Center (ABC Center), where Russell's Pharmacy is located along with other shops and community resources, will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, March 30 from 11 - 2 PM.&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;</h6>
<p>One of the best parts of working at Self-Help is getting to celebrate the successes of our borrowers, members and tenants. We Self-Helpers got a treat earlier this month when one of our tenants, Russell's Pharmacy and Shoppe, celebrated its grand opening in East Durham, NC.</p>
<p>Self-Help supports urban revitalization in communities around the country, with an especially deep impact in our headquarters city of Durham. <a href="https://russellspharmacyshoppe.com/">Russell&rsquo;s Pharmacy &amp; Shoppe</a>, a new independent pharmacy, is a key retail anchor of Self-Help&rsquo;s Angier Business &amp; Children&rsquo;s Center (ABC Center) project, which is an $11+ million investment in a series of historic buildings totaling 45,000 square feet in the East Durham...Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:08:37 Zurn:uuid:d0b0f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/02/14/note-to-members-we-love-youNote to Members: We Love You<p>In this season of hearts and flowers, we&rsquo;re sending lots of love to our members at Self-Help Credit Union and Self-Help Federal Credit Union. Together, we&rsquo;re nearly 150,000 strong in seven states around the nation. Here are love notes to just a *tiny* sample of the members who inspire us and help make our mission possible through the work they do every day.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/esther-house.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Esther House" title="Esther House"></strong></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>Staff and Volunteers at Esther House Ministries</strong></p>
<p>Esther House Ministries helps women who are facing economic difficulties by providing shelter, counseling, help with employment, and financial education. A Self-Help loan to Harvest Word Ministries, the parent organization located in Zebulon, NC, was the beginning of a strong community relationship spanning 20 years.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src...Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:05:42 Zurn:uuid:1ba7f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/02/07/black-history-spotlight-the-scottsboro-boys-45-year-struggle-for-justiceBlack History Spotlight: The Scottsboro Boys’ 45-Year Struggle for Justice<p><em>From the beginning, Self-Help's mission has been closely tied&nbsp;to the civil rights movement as we seek to expand economic opportunity for underserved communities. In honor of Black History Month, we remember many achievements by black leaders and innovators, and we&nbsp;also pay tribute to those who have fought for justice.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><em>This week we have a guest post from Charlene Crowell, Communications Deputy Director for our affiliate, the Center for Responsible Lending. Charlene has been with CRL for 10 years, and during that time she also has&nbsp;been a regular columnist for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade association of more than 200 African-American-owned community newspapers across the U.S.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/scottsboro-2f6a6f68da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Defendants in the Scottsboro case meet with ACLU representatives (1933)." title="Scottsbor...Thu, 07 Feb 2019 20:49:18 Zurn:uuid:bb9ff68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/01/31/new-research-green-tips-and-green-salad-self-help-s-week-in-the-newsNew Research, Green Tips and Green Salad: Self-Help’s Week in the News<p>We had lots of news this week &ndash; here&rsquo;s a quick rundown of top items:</p>
<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/58ff83511a8dfc70821dff8d_student-loan-burdens659ff68da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="college student studying" title="58ff83511a8dfc70821dff8d_student loan burdens" width="386" height="269"></p>
<p><strong>New CRL Research on For-Profit Colleges</strong></p>
<p>New research from our affiliate, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), shows how for-profit colleges have a disproportionate impact on low-income students, African Americans and women. <a href="https://community.sh/2sX9YHd">CRL&rsquo;s new report</a> includes an interactive map with fact sheets for all states where sufficient data was available.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>New Loan for a Mission-Focused Charter School</strong></p>
<p>This week we celebrated a new Self-Help loan for Marshall High School in Middletown, Ohio. Marshall is a charter s...Thu, 31 Jan 2019 20:11:08 Zurn:uuid:7a9af68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/01/24/government-shutdown-loans-for-furloughed-federal-employeesGovernment Shutdown Loans for Furloughed Federal Employees<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/capitol679af68da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="U.S. Capitol" title="capitol"></p>
<p>Because of the current U.S. government shutdown, many federal government employees and their families are hurting. In response, Self-Help Credit Union is offering a hardship loan at reduced interest rates of 0% to 3.5% APR (annual percentage rate) for furloughed federal workers.</p>
<p><strong>Loan Features and Requirements</strong></p>
<p>&bull; Applicants must join Self-Help Credit Union before applying for a Government Shutdown Loan, if they are not already a member.</p>
<p>&bull; The Government Shutdown Loan amount can be up to the member&rsquo;s &ldquo;take home&rdquo; pay period total.</p>
<p>&bull; These loans carry a 0% APR* for members who normally have their full net pay direct deposited into a Self-Help Credit Union share draft or share account. The net pay amount must be verified by a payroll stub or m...Thu, 24 Jan 2019 20:38:36 Zurn:uuid:cf8bf68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/01/15/dr.-king's-dream-address-economic-injusticeDr. King's Dream: Address Economic Injustice<style>
.videoWrapper {
position: relative;
padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */
padding-top: 25px;
height: 0;
}
.videoWrapper iframe {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}
</style>
<p><em>This post updates a previous post we ran in 2016.</em></p>
<p>Self-Help exists to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities&mdash;a mission that seems particularly relevant as we mark the 90th birthday of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</p>
<p>Our founding in 1980 was greatly influenced by Dr. King and the unfinished business of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In essence, the work of Self-Help is our sincere effort to fulfill the dream of Dr. King.</p>
<p>Toward the end of his remarkable life, Dr. King became increasingly more vocal in addressing economic injustice in America. Unfortunately, more than 50 years after the pivo...Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:42:15 Zurn:uuid:d750f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2019/01/07/improving-as-a-credit-union-building-a-better-world"Improving as a Credit Union, Building a Better World"<img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/annualmeeting_durham_2018_701351f68da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Randy Chambers speaks at Self-Help CU's 2018 Annual Meeting. " title="AnnualMeeting_Durham_2018_70">
<h6><em>Randy speaking at our 2018 annual meeting.</em></h6>
<h2>A Message from our President, Randy Chambers</h2>
<p>The word &ldquo;awesome&rdquo; gets over-used, but we at Self-Help Credit Union are truly in awe of our members and partners. Not only do you make our work possible, you teach us and inspire us. Working side-by-side with you in 2018, we expanded our services and moved forward in creating more economic opportunity in more locations. </p>
<p>This past year we learned a lot about the compassion and resilience of our members and staff, as many in our service areas faced terrible disasters. In the Carolinas, thousands of families continue to suffer from damage, displacement and unemployment resulting from Hurricane Florence...Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:04:15 Zurn:uuid:474df68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/12/31/our-top-10-stories-in-2018Our Top 10 Stories in 2018<p>Happy new year to all our members and friends! </p>
<p>Self-Help&rsquo;s most popular blog posts in 2018 reflect both the hardships and victories our communities experienced this year. It&rsquo;s a tribute to your volunteer spirit that one of our most popular posts was aimed at helping victims of Hurricane Florence. Other stories covered happier news, like the growth of small businesses, a new branch in Rocky Mount and Self-Help&rsquo;s expanded service in South Carolina.</p>
<p>To stay up-to-date in 2019, be sure to <a href="https://self-help.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cf63cc7211c686c77a5a786af&amp;id=92e914b66a">subscribe to our blog</a> and other news. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy these stories from the past year.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>10. <a href="https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/08/03/self-help-s-john-herrera-honored-for-changing-the-south">Self-Help&rsquo;s John Herrera Honored for &ldquo;Changing the South.&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;John Herrera, Self-Help Cu's Sen...Mon, 31 Dec 2018 20:59:06 Zurn:uuid:5046f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/12/17/documenting-two-remarkable-credit-unionsDocumenting Two Remarkable Credit Unions<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/keene-cafe-building-600x407.jpg?sfvrsn=0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Picture of Keene Cafe building" title="Keene Cafe building 600x407"></p>
<p>I first met our editor and videographer, Joseph Hernandez, at the Keene Caf&eacute; in Keene, California. It was a convenient meeting spot on the way to the Cesar Chavez Monument and Villa La Paz, both nearby. There we laid the foundation for what was to become &ldquo;<a href="https://community.sh/KernLegacy">Kern Central Credit Union: A Legacy of Serving Workers in the Fields</a>.&rdquo; In creating this video we knew we wanted to cover not only the history of Kern Central Credit Union, but also the Farm Workers Credit Union that merged with Kern in 1995. </p>
<p>Kern Central Credit Union was formed in 1974 for the employees of the Kern County Refinery and employer groups within a 25-mile radius.&nbsp; Not long after, it<strong> </strong>expanded its field of membership to serve individu...Mon, 17 Dec 2018 18:16:57 Zurn:uuid:0a01f68d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/11/19/inspired-by-our-members-a-wonderful-annual-meeting!Inspired by Our Members—A Wonderful Annual Meeting!<p><strong>&ldquo;Let Your Faith be Greater than Your Fear&rdquo;</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/Blog-images/annualmeeting_durham_2018_3.jpg?sfvrsn=3&amp;MaxWidth=500&amp;MaxHeight=&amp;ScaleUp=false&amp;Quality=High&amp;Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&amp;Signature=2E4A27131EB41AB496973940B7B927779AAC9C70" data-displaymode="Custom" alt="Photo of staff and members from the 2018 Annual Meeting" title="AnnualMeeting_Durham_2018_3" data-method="ResizeFitToAreaArguments" data-customsizemethodproperties="{&quot;MaxWidth&quot;:&quot;500&quot;,&quot;MaxHeight&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;ScaleUp&quot;:false,&quot;Quality&quot;:&quot;High&quot;}"></p>
<p><em>Self-Help staff and members pause for a photo during the 2018 annual meeting.</em></p>
<p>Last week more than 100 members and supporters joined staff for the Self-Help Credit Union annual meeting &ndash; the best Self-Help CU annual meeting in our entire history.</p>
<p>Okay, maybe we say that every year. But this year was ex...Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:55:18 Zurn:uuid:f1cff58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/11/08/7-tips-for-holiday-shopping7 Tips for Holiday Shopping<p><strong>Enjoy an <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Affordable</span> Holiday</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/christmas-festive-hands-home-boxes-gifts-present-new-year-share_t20_neb8j6.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Man holding a stack of gifts" title="christmas-festive-hands-home-boxes-gifts-present-new-year-share_t20_neb8j6"></p>
<p>&lsquo;Tis the season when we&rsquo;re bombarded with enticements to spend extra money, presumably to have happy holidays. The truth is that overspending can make for a very <em>unhappy</em> new year.</p>
<p>A few simple actions can help avoid giving your wallet a nasty holiday hangover. We&rsquo;ve culled the Internet for advice on managing holiday spending, and here we share just a few favorite tips with you:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Don&rsquo;t just set a budget; keep a daily record. </strong>
<p>The number one tip on holiday spending is to set a budget, but it&rsquo;s easy to &ldquo;forget&r...Thu, 08 Nov 2018 21:04:39 Zurn:uuid:8096f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/10/30/welcome-to-two-credit-unions-in-south-carolinaWelcome to Two Credit Unions in South Carolina<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/sc-mergers.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Graphic - two SC credit unions merge with Self-Help" title="SC mergers"></p>
<p>In case you missed it: We&rsquo;re happy to announce two new additions to the Self-Help Credit Union family, both located in South Carolina. Welcome to Palmetto Trust Federal Credit Union located in Columbia, and also to CommunityWorks Federal Credit Union in Greenville. Palmetto Trust Federal officially joined us on September 1. CommunityWorks followed on October 1.</p>
<p>These mergers represent Self-Help&rsquo;s first direct presence in South Carolina. We&rsquo;re excited to pick up the work that these credit unions have started and expand financial services in the communities they serve. </p>
<p><strong>Palmetto Trust Federal</strong></p>
<p>Palmetto Trust Federal started in 1953, serving local federal employees in a diverse, growing community. Today the credit union serves over 2,200 members from...Tue, 30 Oct 2018 16:37:58 Zurn:uuid:a27af58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/10/18/choice-community-a-tight-knit-credit-union-familyChoice Community: A Tight-Knit Credit Union Family<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/miller-cfcu-photo013.jpg?sfvrsn=3" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Miller CFCU" title="Miller CFCU"></p>
<p><em>Martha Miller, left, served as CEO of Choice Federal Credit Union and became a leader in NC&rsquo;s credit union movement.</em></p>
<p>In the late 1970s, when Martha Miller was asked to manage a credit union for Burlington Industries employees, she said, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s a credit union?&rdquo; The Greensboro, North Carolina resident went on to serve as CEO of Choice Federal Credit Union (originally Burlington Employees Federal CU), and ultimately became a leader in NC&rsquo;s credit union movement.</p>
<p>We are telling this story because it is part of the history of Choice Community Credit Union, which joined the Self-Help family in 2010. We have captured Choice&rsquo;s history in a short documentary: &ldquo;<a href="https://community.sh/ChoiceLegacy">Choice Community Credit Union: A Tight-Knit Family</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p> ...Thu, 18 Oct 2018 15:49:33 Zurn:uuid:5140f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/09/25/a-legacy-for-the-people-17-years-of-service-to-west-oaklandA Legacy for the People: 17 Years of Service to West Oakland<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/peoples-thumbnail7d40f58da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="People's brought affordable financial services to an area that had been a banking desert." title="Peoples thumbnail"></p>
<p>Seventeen years ago, this November, marks a big day in West Oakland&mdash;the inception of <a href="https://www.self-helpfcu.org/stories-from-self-helps-vault/a-legacy-for-the-people-people-s-community-partnership-federal-credit-union">People&rsquo;s Community Partnership Federal Credit Union</a>. People&rsquo;s was the first and only affordable financial institution in West Oakland in over 40 years. Our latest legacy video tells the story of People&rsquo;s&mdash;now part of Self-Help Federal&mdash;a story of true labor of love and activism to build economic power in Oakland&rsquo;s low-income neighborhoods.</p>
<p>People&rsquo;s was established by a grassroots organizing campaign led and supported by area residents an...Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:36:35 Zurn:uuid:063bf58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/09/18/how-to-help-hurricane-florence-victimsHow to Help Hurricane Florence Victims<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/Blog-images/loading-car-with-donation-bags.jpg?sfvrsn=2" data-displaymode="Original" alt="loading-car-with-donation-bags" title="loading-car-with-donation-bags"></p>
<p>It is heartening to see how many groups have quickly mobilized to help victims of Hurricane Florence. Below we have compiled a quick reference list of resources for donating to reputable groups.</p>
<p>Self-Help members affected by the storm: you can find information on <a href="https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/09/12/credit-union-resources-for-members-affected-by-hurricane-florence">how to access our services here</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Get Information:</strong></h3>
<h3><strong></strong><strong style="font-size: 13px;">FEMA:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-florence" target="_blank" id="LPlnk820030" style="font-size: 13px;">https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-florence</a></h3>
<h3><a href="https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-florence" target="_blank"...Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:13:22 Zurn:uuid:5933f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/09/12/credit-union-resources-for-members-affected-by-hurricane-florenceCredit Union Resources for Members Affected by Hurricane Florence<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/girlatwindow2133f58da67d63d397e2ff0000889687.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Girl stares at rain through a window" title="Girlatwindow"></p>
<p>Many of our members live in areas likely to be affected by Hurricane Florence. We at Self-Help Credit Union will take all measures to continue our service to you. Here is a brief summary of resources for members.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>How to get&nbsp;access&nbsp;to&nbsp;SHCU Banking Services</strong></p>
<p><strong>At our branches&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>We expect that some Self-Help CU branches will be temporarily closed as a result of the hurricane. Information about branch closings will be posted to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.self-help.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="LPlnk816067">www.self-help.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Via ATM</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>I</strong>f you have a&nbsp;...Wed, 12 Sep 2018 16:35:44 Zurn:uuid:4a28f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/08/29/new-charter-school-brings-opportunity-to-an-underserved-districtNew Charter School Brings Opportunity to an Underserved District<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/Blog-images/charter-school-children.jpg?sfvrsn=3" data-displaymode="Original" alt="charter school children" title="charter school children"></p>
<p><em>Photo from IDEA Public Schools at www.ideapublicschools.org/our-schools/idea-innovation.</em></p>
<p>As many kids head back to school, we are happy to celebrate the opening of a new charter school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Working with three other lending partners, Self-Help financed an $8 million loan to <a href="https://newschoolsbr.org/">New Schools for Baton Rouge</a> to construct a permanent K-12 campus for IDEA Innovation, one of two <a href="https://www.ideapublicschools.org/our-schools/idea-innovation">IDEA Public Schools Louisiana</a> campuses opening this year. IDEA Public Schools is a charter school network known for achieving high academic success in underserved educational districts.</p>
<p>The new school will be part of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, which serves over 41,000...Wed, 29 Aug 2018 20:09:38 Zurn:uuid:f91bf58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/08/09/self-help-interns-made-the-summer-brighterSelf-Help Interns Made the Summer Brighter<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/summer-2018-intern-cohort-at-food-bank.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Summer interns in Durham, NC at a service project with a local food bank." title="Summer 2018 intern cohort at food bank"></p>
<p><em>In late July, many of the Durham, NC interns helped out at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Along with other organizations, they successfully salvaged nearly 10,000 meals for communities in need.</em></p>
<p>It&rsquo;s that time of year when our summer interns clean out their Self-Help desks and prepare to go back to school or post-college jobs. Boy, are we missing them! This summer we had 27 energetic students who did all kinds of work for Self-Help in several different locations. They tackled a variety of projects, from fundraising to fighting predatory lending to research on boosting sustainable business practices. </p>
<p>In addition to daily duties, the interns had a chance to participate in a nu...Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:00:00 Zurn:uuid:010af58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/08/03/self-help-s-john-herrera-honored-for-changing-the-southSelf-Help’s John Herrera Honored for “Changing the South”<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/Blog-images/john-herrera.jpg?sfvrsn=0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="John Herrera" title="John Herrera"></p>
<p>Congratulations to John Herrera, Self-Help Credit Union&rsquo;s Senior VP of Latino and Hispanic Affairs! John was recently profiled by TIME Magazine as one of "<a href="http://time.com/5349036/people-changing-the-south/?utm_source=time.com&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=social-button-sharing">31 People Who Are Changing the South</a>." Eighteen years ago, John was a co-founder of the Latino Community Credit Union, which today serves over 75,000 members and has become a national banking model for new immigrants.</p>
<p>John and others in the community formed the LCCU at a time when Latino people desperately needed a safe place to keep their money. As quoted in TIME, John said, &ldquo;People knew the easiest way to get cash was to rob a Mexican on payday. [New immigrants] were easy targets, walking ATMs.&rdquo;</p>
<p>John joined Se...Fri, 03 Aug 2018 16:00:00 Zurn:uuid:dc06f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/07/26/homeownership-education-in-wilson-ncHomeownership Education in Wilson, NC<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/wilson-mortgageworkshop.jpg?sfvrsn=2" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Self-Help staff lead a home buyers' workshop in Wilson, NC" title="Wilson-mortgageworkshop"></p>
<p><em>Sharonal Jarrell, Self-Help Mortgage Loan Officer in Wilson, NC, leads a session on&nbsp;</em><em>homebuyer education.</em></p>
<p>In Wilson NC, Self-Help Credit Union held its first &ldquo;Community Mortgage Initiative&rdquo; on July 16 at the Wilson County Public Library. The purpose of the event was to describe the benefits of homeownership and help interested people find out more about the process of buying a home.</p>
<p>In the Wilson community there are many people who dream of homeownership.&nbsp; According to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/26/report-no-progress-for-african-americans-on-homeownership-unemployment-and-incarceration-in-50-years/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.7c2e35b4eb6f">W<em>ashington Post </em>article</a>, &ldq...Thu, 26 Jul 2018 18:32:40 Zurn:uuid:b201f58d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/07/19/sba-504-offers-a-path-for-smart-business-growthSBA 504 Offers a Path for Smart Business Growth<p><a href="https://www.self-help.org/business/loans/sba-504-loans"><em>SBA 504 loans</em></a><em> are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Self-Help is SBA-certified to offer these loans, which come with significant advantages to small businesses. Here&rsquo;s a recent example:</em> </p>
<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/worksmart.jpg?sfvrsn=4" data-displaymode="Original" alt="A group of employees outside the WorkSmart building in Durham, NC." title="WorkSmart"></p>
<p><em>A Self-Help 504 SBA loan helped finance this WorkSmart building in Durham, NC.</em></p>
<p>In 2001, UNC MBA grad Ron Unger noticed a common need among small businesses: These companies often didn&rsquo;t have the budget to hire their own IT department, yet still needed IT support. Ron combined forces with two other MBA friends to create WorkSmart, a company providing managed IT services to other businesses. WorkSmart started small and steadily built up a client base as word spread ...Thu, 19 Jul 2018 12:55:00 Zurn:uuid:d9f8f48d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/07/12/rodeo-rounds-up-tons-of-recyclingRodeo Rounds Up Tons of Recycling<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/recycling-rodeo-at-rev-mill.jpg?sfvrsn=4" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Recycling Rodeo at Revolution Mill" title="Recycling Rodeo at Revolution Mill" align="left"></p>
<p><br />
</p>
<p><br />
</p>
<p><br />
</p>
<p><br />
</p>
<p>In June, the City of Greensboro and <a href="http://revolutionmillgreensboro.com/">Revolution Mill</a> partnered up to sponsor a Recycling Rodeo. The event, held on the Revolution Mill campus, encouraged Guilford County residents to bring hard-to-recycle items such as chemicals, paint, batteries and car oil. The Rodeo also solicited donations for Dress for Success in Winston-Salem, a nonprofit that provides professional attire for low-income job seekers.</p>
<p>This event follows shred-cycle events held at several Self-Help branches to celebrate Earth Day 2018.</p>
<p>The Rodeo attracted 375 people, including those hauling heavy loads in vehicles and those who came by bicycle. O...Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:25:06 Zurn:uuid:bbb7f48d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/06/28/sprint-offers-cash-rewards-to-credit-union-membersSprint Offers Cash Rewards to Credit Union Members<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/sprint-logo.png?sfvrsn=2" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Sprint &quot;Love My Credit Union&quot; logo" title="Sprint logo"></p>
<p>Attention all Self-Help members: If you&rsquo;re in the market for a new phone or phone lines, you may be interested in this special offer. <a href="https://www.sprint.com/">Sprint&reg;</a> is paying a $100 cash reward to credit union members for each new line switched to Sprint.</p>
<p>Self-Help members have already been taking advantage of this &ldquo;Love My Credit Union&rdquo; promotion. In fact, since the beginning of 2017, our members have received more than $14,000 in cash rewards.</p>
<p>Here&rsquo;s how it works:</p>
<p>&bull; Members get a $100 cash reward for each new line they switch to Sprint&reg;.* </p>
<p>&bull; Current Sprint customers will receive a $50 cash reward for each line transferred into Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Rewards.*</p>
<p>&bull; Plus, get a $50 loyalty cash reward eve...Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:16:00 Zurn:uuid:77aff48d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/06/25/summer-boot-camp-for-food-entrepreneursSummer Boot Camp for Food Entrepreneurs<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/healthy-foods-boot-camp.jpg?sfvrsn=2" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Tera Johnson leads a Financial Management session at Self-Help for entrepreneurs in food-related industries." title="Healthy Foods Boot Camp"></p>
<p><em>Tera Johnson (left, back), director of the Food Finance Institute, leading a recent session of Financial Management&nbsp;Boot Camp for entrepreneurs. Photo by Dylan Timmerman.</em></p>
<p>Self-Help Credit Union hosted a variety of food entrepreneurs for the first of two sessions of a Financial Management Boot Camp on June 6 and 7 in Durham, NC. The workshops, led by Tera Johnson from the <a href="https://foodfinanceinstitute.org/">Food Finance Institute</a>, help entrepreneurs in the food and farm industries learn how to expand their businesses while remaining financially sustainable.</p>
<p>This Boot Camp builds on Self-Help&rsquo;s ongoing work to provide technical assistance and increase capital access across the...Mon, 25 Jun 2018 18:45:39 Zurn:uuid:dfa1f48d-a67d-63d3-97e2-ff0000889687https://www.self-help.org/updates/sh-blog/blog/2018/06/18/23-students-selected-to-be-self-help-scholars23 Students Selected to be Self-Help Scholars<p><img src="https://www.self-help.org/images/default-source/default-album/shcu-1849_scholarship-collage-numbers-1.jpg?sfvrsn=2" data-displaymode="Original" alt="Collage of Self-Help's 2018 scholarship winners" title="SHCU-1849_Scholarship Collage-Numbers-1" align="middle"></p>
<p>Congratulations to the 23 students (18 shown above) who recently received a Self-Help Credit Union scholarship! A winner was selected from each of our branch offices in North Carolina and Virginia as well as from Jax Metro, our credit union in Florida. All of the scholarship recipients have demonstrated a commitment to service and building stronger communities.</p>
<p>Each year our Self-Help CU branches offer $500 to a local student attending or planning to attend a vocational school or college. We evaluate each application on the student&rsquo;s proven commitment to community service through leadership or volunteer activities. Every applicant also submits an essay on the value of credit unions in the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>
C...Mon, 18 Jun 2018 16:42:47 Z